Embattled Defence Minister Linda Reynolds To Miss Extra Parliament, Prompting Speculation About Her Future

The fallout from the Brittany Higgins rape case and different sexual assault allegations continues to reverberate within the government. Morrison additionally discovered himself rebuked by the Australian of the Year, Grace Tame, on Wednesday. Tame, a survivor of sexual assault and an advocate for fellow survivors, was asked by journalists to address the prime minister’s admission he wanted his wife to know the allegations raised by Higgins. Morrison stated Reynolds was not making the comments in relation to Higgins’ allegations however relating to subsequent comments “about the levels of support offered”.

Prior to her election to parliament, she held numerous positions within the celebration’s organisational wing. She was a campaign supervisor for the divisions of Pearce and Hasluck and served as a deputy federal director from 2006 to 2008. She additionally labored as an voters officer and ministerial advisor, notably as chief of workers and senior adviser to justice minister Chris Ellison from 2001 to 2003. Attorney-General Christian Porter has also taken indefinite go away after being accused of a historic rape allegation, which means two of the eight national security committee members are absent. Ms Higgins was allegedly raped by another Liberal staffer in Senator Reynolds’ office in March 2019.

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In the fortnight since she went public, different ladies have come forward with allegations towards the same man. Ms Higgins’ determination to go public has prompted a wave of other allegations – together with a rape accusation in opposition to Attorney General Christian Porter which he strongly denies. During the 2018 Liberal Party of Australia management spills, Reynolds reportedly supported the incumbent prime minister Malcolm Turnbull in the first ballot on 21 August before switching her support to Scott Morrison within the second pollon 24 August.

Reynolds took a interval of medical depart on 24 February, amid sustained strain over her dealing with of the alleged rape of her former staffer, Brittany Higgins, within the minister’s workplace. In February 2021, reports emerged that a junior staffer had allegedly been raped in 2019 by an advisor to Reynolds within the then Senator’s workplace late at night time. The alleged assailant was sacked days after the incident for a “security breach.” Reynolds didn’t present a reference however didn’t say whether or not his termination payout was withheld. Prime Minister Scott Morrison publicly rebuked Reynolds for not telling him of the incident. Reynolds was because of address the National Press Club on 24 February, but it was announced that day that she had taken indefinite medical go away related to a pre-present condition.

Embattled Defence Minister Linda Reynolds To Overlook More Parliament, Prompting Hypothesis About Her Future

The government had rejected Naval Group’s original plan for this system’s subsequent phase however the company final month submitted its revised plan, which was developed in consultation with Defence officers. The Morrison authorities and the Paris-based mostly firm are also verging on an settlement covering the subsequent two years of the project. Mr Pommellet on Tuesday stated Naval Group was “absolutely committed to supporting the development of Australia’s sovereign submarine functionality”. Naval Group’s world chairman Pierre-Eric Pommellet visited Australia last month to nut out the settlement with senior authorities officials. “As the acting Minister has made this announcement we anticipate her to have the ability to answer all questions on these matters within the defence estimates hearing,” Mr O’Connor stated. The new settlement follows greater than 12 months of mounting concern about whether Naval Group would meet its local content material necessities under the biggest defence contract in Australia’s history.

The contemporary upheaval adopted another tough day for the federal government, this time attributable to private comments allegedly made by Tasmanian Liberal Senator Eric Abetz in relation to Brittany Higgins, who says she was raped in Parliament House in Canberra. Ms. Higgins stated last month that she had been assaulted by a co-employee within the minister’s office two years ago, whereas she was working as a media adviser for Ms. Reynolds. Ms. Higgins stated that after she advised the minister and different staff members what had occurred, she was made to feel that she would lose her job if she reported it to the police and felt unsupported by Ms. Reynolds. Ms. Higgins did not immediately respond to calls or text messages seeking clarification. But she said in a press release that damages beyond the price of her legal charges would be donated to a charity supporting sexual assault survivors.

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On Thursday, Mr Morrison said he had spoken to Ms Reynolds and she had acknowledged the feedback had been “inappropriate and wrong”. When requested if Ms Reynolds ought to quit, the PM said her comment had come “in her personal workplace in a stressful week”. Reynolds was appointed Minister for Defence in May 2019, following the Coalition’s victory on the 2019 federal election, the second woman to carry the position after Marise Payne. Her appointment was cautiously welcomed by Neil James, the president of the Australian Defence Association, who noted her lack of ministerial expertise. She was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross in the 2011 Australia Day Honours for “excellent achievement because the Director of Army Strategic Reform Program coordination”.

“And so we’re supporting her in getting the physical health therapy that she needs over this period, that medical doctors have advised that she needs to take.” “Finally any monies I have received from the Minister as a part of the settlement of my declare in opposition to her might be paid in full to an organisation that provides counselling and assist to survivors of sexual assault and abuse in the Canberra area. “I am happy that the Minister has now withdrawn her comments and I settle for her apology to me,” Ms Higgins mentioned. “Given that the remark was made public, which I never intended, I additionally want to retract it and unreservedly apologise to Brittany Higgins and acknowledge the damage and misery it caused to her.”

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